A golf fiction novel about second chances, mental toughness, and the courage to play the next shot on the course and in life.

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A GOLF NOVEL ABOUT SECOND CHANCES - GET FIRST TWO CHAPTERS FREE!

Jake Steadman was once a prodigy with a golden golf swing, destined for greatness, but years of addiction, broken dreams, and a fractured relationship with his father sent him spiraling into despair.

Now, at thirty-six, he stands on the eighteenth tee at Crestview Country Club, one shot away from a chance at the U.S. Open - and redemption.

With his loyal friend Jonesy by his side, Jake battles the demons of his past and the pressure of the moment. Will Jake find the strength to make the shot of his life, or will the weight of his past pull him under?

Level Par is the golf fiction novel for anyone who has ever stood over a shot and felt the weight of everything that came before it. It is a story about the mental game of golf, but more than that, it is a story about the courage to start over. If you are looking for golf books about resilience, redemption, and what it truly means to compete — this is your next read. Named one of the Top New Golf Books for 2026 by Links Magazine.

Format: Paperback, KINDLE, Audible
ISBN: 978-1961978676
Publisher: Briley & Baxter Publications
Wholesaler: Ingram

  • Level Par Named Top New Golf Books for 2026 by Links Magazine

    "Level Par, tackles the very limited world of golf fiction—always a hit-or-miss affair—so you don’t really know what to expect. And then you breeze through it in two days while smiling, nodding, and feeling the pain, anguish, and hope of the book’s hero, Jake Steadman. Steadman was a potentially great golfer before addiction and relationship issues nearly broke him. At 36, he’s back and playing in a U.S. Open qualifier. It’s a redemption story that makes for a quick and very satisfying read."

The author of Level Par is Tom Layman.

About The Author

Tom Layman’s writing career began on the sports pages of the Boston Herald. He wrote features and covered the Boston sports scene for the city’s second biggest daily newspaper for seven years.

He has been published online for Runner’s World, Outside Magazine, and ESPN Boston. He continues his passion for storytelling with his video production company, Layman’s Terms Productions.

He is a native of Massachusetts, and Level Par is his first fiction book.

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